Cultural Significance Project Guidelines
There are two options for this project. The first option is an analysis paper, and the second option
allows you to create a pop culture item of your own.
Option 1: In an essay of at least 1000 words, explore the significance of a pop culture item
or artifact of your choice. Don’t be thrown off by the term “artifact” here – I’m referring to a
piece of pop culture, not something you’d find on an archaeological dig J Options include: a TV show (3 episodes maximum), movie, album, podcast, novel, news media coverage,
advertisement, online article, social media page, video game, etc. One caveat is that you can’t
write about the same film you used for the movie review. Also, trying to analyze a platform like
Instagram or Tik Tok or a type of technology like Nintendo Switch or the iPhone is too much for
this project. One IG account, Tik Tok meme, or video game will give you plenty to write about.
Your essay should incorporate a central claim or thesis at the end of the first paragraph about
why the cultural artifact is noteworthy or significant. This claim should go beyond saying
that the item is significant because it was popular. To go deeper in your analysis, you’ll need
to answer the question of why it was or is popular (this will likely take some thought and
research). The majority of the essay should consist of a decoding and analysis of the artifact that
will serve as evidence for your thesis statement.
Option 2: Create a pop culture artifact of your own and write a 500-word discussion to
accompany it. Your artifact might be: a YouTube video, a Tik Tok post, a podcast episode, a
piece of visual media, a board game, etc. The possibilities are endless! In your written discussion, you should include a summary of what you made, the inspiration behind what you created, and who your target audience is (or might be). You should also incorporate at least one secondary source into the written discussion component.
Requirements
• You should incorporate at least one secondary source: ideally a peer-reviewed article
or academic book chapter. However, the source does not need to discuss your
artifact itself. It can be about the genre, a social issue, or a related topic
• A title, page numbers, and a bibliography page
• All citations should be referenced using whatever format you are most comfortable
with (MLA and Chicago are the most commonly used in the humanities)
• 12-point font; double-spaced; 1-inch margins
Deadlines:
• Brief project proposal: July 26
• Initial draft for peer review: August 1
• Final draft: August 12
For students doing option 1, consider the following questions as you’re developing your
primary focus and your thesis statement (you won’t be able to cover all of these questions in
the paper itself):
• How does this artifact reflect the cultural politics of its time period? How might the race,
ethnicity, gender, class status, regional affiliation, or immigration status of the
producer(s) shape the artifact itself as well as broader audience responses to it?
• Was/is your artifact controversial? If so, what are the argument(s)
surrounding it?
• Who are the fans? Do the fan demographics shed light on the overall significance of the
artifact?
• Are there specific influence(s) you can you identify, either in terms of a general aesthetic
or specific references? What might these influences say about the artifact you’ve chosen
and/or the circulation of popular culture in general?
For option 1, the rough draft will need to be at least 500 words, including a rough introduction
w/ thesis statement.
For students doing option 2, your rough draft will involve creating a detailed outline of the
object you plan to create, including any questions or concerns that you have at this stage of the
process.
Here is a rubric for option 2 students:
* Student should demonstrate skill and knowledge of the genre or platform that they are using to
create the artifact
* Demonstrate an awareness of the popular culture landscape and/or current cultural trends or
issues
* Include an effective description of at least 500 words that addresses the artifact’s intended
message and audience
* Description should be clearly written and proofread and should cite a secondary source
* A link or digital version of the artifact should be shared as part of the final draft